Iraq Conducts First Census in Nearly 40 Years Amid Political Sensitivities

The nationwide count aims to modernize demographic data, impacting resource distribution and political representation.

The census is Iraq's first since 1987 and includes all 18 governorates, with the Kurdish region participating for the first time since 1997.
Iraqi authorities, with support from the UN Population Fund, aim to gather data on health, education, and employment to address developmental gaps.
The census excludes questions on ethnicity and sectarian affiliation to avoid exacerbating political tensions.
Kurdish officials express concerns about potential declines in their population count affecting political influence and budget allocations.
A two-day curfew is in place to facilitate data collection by 120,000 researchers, with results expected in two to three months.